JULY 2012 New User's Contest

Are you new to the 3D World? Are you at the beginning stages of learning 3D rendering? Have you been around for a little bit but feel you could benefit from some feedback or instruction? Have you been around awhile and would like to help other members start their creative journey? Well then come and join the fun as we host our newest contest...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Posed to Perfection"Intent: To help in better understanding how a pose impacts a scene as well as how to use photo references to help create that perfect pose.

This month we will be focusing on Posing. For this contest we would like you to search the web for a Pose you feel is dynamic and interesting and then use that reference as a guide as you try to replicate it within your app of choice to be used in any way you would like within your final entry. I will be posting an example image as well as some ideas on terms to search and some other tips in the WIP THREAD.

In addition to the rules listed in the link above, please also note the following additional rules for this contest:

1) When posting your entry this month you MUST also post the image you used for reference (or link to it).
2) To keep things fair, we also require that when replicating the pose you start from scratch. In other words, please start the creation of your pose of Vicky, Michael, Genesis etc from the figures default position without the use of Pose packs to aide in your end result.
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When working on your submissions, if you would like to get feedback as you work or before posting your final image, please post your image to the WIP THREAD HERE. People will be popping in to the WIP THREAD to give you some critique and advice on your entry and help along the way. Please keep all comments on entries etc to the WIP THREAD as well as comments or requests for help/feedback/advice will be removed from the contest thread and merged into the WIP THREAD. This thread is only for posting final contest submissions.

For those veterans of the forums that would like to help, because this contest is designed for the beginner to learn from, we will be randomly selecting posts offering helpful tips and/or critiques to receive a special voucher as well so whether you are a seasoned artist or an aspiring one, there is fun for everyone!

Comments

1. Does the entire image need to look like the photo reference you choose?
A: No, you can be as creative as you want with the look of the character, environment, clothing etc. We are only looking at the Pose itself in the reference photo and how well you have translated it in your own image.

2. Do we have to stick to people or can we use anything that can be posed?
A: You can use anything whether it be a person, alien, animal. The subject choice is yours. You could even go as far as to try an duplicate a reference pose from a cat image to a human if you want to.

3. Does the pose have to be identical to the reference?
A: The pose should be as close as you can get it, but it does not have to be identical. Due to the constraints of joints in 3D sometimes identical is not possible. Get it as close as you can.

4. Can I use more then one reference photo?
A: Yes, but when submitting your entry, please post both images with an explanation of what part of each reference you used where in your entry. EXAMPLE: If you use how the hands are posed from one reference and the body from another reference, please let us know that along with your entry and post both the reference images with the entry.

5. What do we do if part of the pose in the reference we are using is obstructed?
A. You can either use an additional reference or you may take creative liberty as to how you think the pose looks in the obstructed area.

Here is my finished render for the contest. I rendered the entire figure in Daz Studio but I went a little crazy and added the background and reflections in post. I figured since the contest is about the pose that all the postwork was ok, but apologies if I've broken any rules. I ultimately decided to make the piece a Star wars-themed render, specifically a Mirialan from the Tales of the Old Republic MMO. The signature on the render is my Deviant Art pseudonym.

Thanks for all the feedback in the WIP thread! I learned alot in a very short amount of time and I feel alot more confident about my posing now :)

Please be sure you all add your image Title, applications used, and your reference image to your post if you haven't done so all ready :) Its hard to vote etc without being able to tell who's image is who's and the reference photo has to be there as well so we can take a look at the source and finished product.

If you are unsure how to add that stuff in to you post, please let me know ok :)

My second entry for the "posed to perfection" contest. For the final render, I decided to take my posed figure in a completely different direction than where I started with my original figure, and make it more of a fantasy setting.

Title: Ambush on the High Peaks
Software Used: DAZ Studio 4.5 Pro and GIMP.
Postwork limited to applying a Gaussian blur to the background and compositing the background and foreground elements together.

Congratulations to the winners and all who participated. This was a very challenging month and a hard one to judge.
The winners should have the prize money added to their accounts within the next 48 hours.